joining us now, washington bureau chief, jerry, looks like obama's going for a two-fer, raising rates on the rich and cap deductions on the rich get them going both ways. >> opening position phase here. the problem, i think, is neither side really is moving fast enough to prevent the partisans on both wings to dig in now. i think the danger is closer to the deadline, you can't get people to pull up the stakes, move in, and support a deal. there's a compromise to be done, and i think that resolves some of the issues in the middle. i think the problem is going to be if you get a compromise at the top, will the troops below to support the compromise still be there? >> while people think there's a full month, you worry we have until december 15th? >> good point. i'm not sure if it's december 15th, but if you want a bill done by the end of the year, it takes a couple weeks to get it done, christmas in the middle, obviously, i think the deadline in practical yesterday, he said there's no way they can compromise unless republicans raise rates on the wealthiest americans. do you think that's